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One isotope of the element potassium is potassium-40 - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 4
One isotope of the element potassium is potassium-40. A nucleus of potassium-40 is represented by $$\frac{40}{19}K$$ (i) Complete the sentence by putting a cross ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:One isotope of the element potassium is potassium-40 - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 4 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Which of these symbols is correct for the nucleus of a different isotope of potassium?
Answer
For a different isotope of potassium, we should look for a nucleus that has the same number of protons (19) but a different mass number. Option D, , is the correct answer as it implies that this isotope has one less neutron.
Step 3
Describe what information this gives about the isotope potassium-40.
Answer
The description indicates that potassium-40 is radioactive, as it emits gamma radiation while decaying into argon-40. This suggests that potassium-40 undergoes a process of radioactive decay, which means it transforms over time and changes into a stable isotope, indicative of its instability. The transformation process typically involves the emission of radiation, asserting that potassium-40 can cause background radiation in the environment.